Band-making machine



L. A. SUBERS.

BAND MAKING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION r1151) JAN. 1211-915. RENEWED JULY 26,1919. 1,832,527.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. A. SUBERS.

BAND MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I2, 1916. RENEWED JULY 26,1919.

1 i i! G I10 fizz 6x602" Jaw. a. /6? Am L. A. SUBERS.

BAND MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, I916- RENEWED JULY 26, 1919.

1,332,527.. Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1:37 f w "M L. A. SUBERS.

BAND MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-12, I9I-6- RENEWED JULY 25, I919.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

, Zara/2Z0)" Emmm- Q Z Z L. A. SUBERS.

BAND MAKING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED JAN. *2, I916. RENEWED JULY 26, I919.

I 3, {III L. A S UBERS. BAND MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I2, I916. RENEWED JULY 25. IBIS.

1,832,527. Patented Mar. 2, 1920. v 6 EEEEEEEEEEEE 6.

:tawnnncn a. stress, or Lnnnwoon, OHIO.-

mun-Marine;v anaemia-n,

, inaaaaaa Specification of Letters ratent.

Patented Mar. a, was.

original application filed December 30, 1911, Serial No. 669,625. Divided and this application filed January 12, 1916, Serial Ito. 71,708. Renewed July 26, 1919. Serial No. 313,480.

This application consists of a division of my former application bearing Serial No.

668,625, filed December 30th, 1911, for a ma chine for constructing a laminated-cohesiveinterwound fabric band. i v v The objects of the invention are to provide eiiicient and practical means for evaporating the solvents and for drying and solidifying the adhesive coating 111317811211, such as liquid rubber, used in constructing a laminatedcohesive-interwoundfabric band, by the machine described in my former application Serial No. 668,625, and also for applying and solidifying one or more successive coatingsof liquid rubber, or otherfdesired material, to the exterior surface of said band. A v

.The machine further embodies elements of improvement in practicability and efliciency over my former devices. as described and illustrated in my prior application Serial No. 600,314, filed December 31st, 1910, Serial No. 600,315, filed December 81st, 1910, and

Serial No. 634,982, filed June 23, 1911, in which it is shown that the material upon the band is solidified and dried by passing the same over and between rollers having a polished surface placed at some distance apart in a vacuum chamber.

Further objects are to combine with a pulling device for the laminated-cohesiveinterwound band, a pushing device, which tends to equalize the forward movement of the band and lessensthe tensile strain as the band comes ofl the forming tube, thereby reducing to a minimum the narrowing of the. band and practically eliminating the possibility of the same lapsing into a roped condition. The shoes'which form apart of the pushing ofi' device are also transversely channeled to form open spaces thereon for the exposure of the yarn elements to the vacuum and heat so that the action of eliminating be practically impossible for the band to become distorted or resume its tubular form while passing to and from the various pu1ling rolls, such action of theband upon the rolls referred to being necessary owing to the fact that a certain number of lineal feet of the band must be exposed to a certain number of inches of vacuum and a predetermined amount of heat must be produced in,

the vacuum chamber for the purpose of eliminating the solvents in the liquid rubber. The bands of finished fabric may pass over the rolls in opposite directions so as to reduce the number of rolls and the size of the vacuum chamber necessary to acquire the essential results for the purpose indicated. v

Further features of the invention comprise rollers having toothed or fluted surfaces so designed as to engage the finished band at regular intervals, thus leaving the intermediate spaces exposed to the solidifying influence of the vacuum and heat, and so permitting evaporation of the solvents from both sides of the band at one time. The pulling and drying rollers are also preferably formed of aluminum or other substance to whichthe liquid rubber on the band will not readily adhere. It will be noted that the pushing and pulling devices are inclosed and are a part of the vacuum chamber or conduit from which the air is practically exhausted, and that this chamber or conduit is provided with suitable heating appliances which are necessary in conjunction with a predetermined number means for applying an exterior coating of vuloanizable liquid rubber or other adhesive material to the band. The series of pulling and drying rolls are so arrangedin suitable over a large number of rolls prior to putting on an exterior coating, and is then exposed over a second series of rolls prior to putting on a second-coating, and is then further exposed to the vacuum and heat upon a third series of rolls before assing out of the end of the chamber. file number of pulling and drying rolls is reduced in proportion to the number of times the band passes over the same-rollers in opposite directions.

' The laminated finished band emerges from the Vacuum chamber through compressing and forming rolls, and means are provided uid rubber or other adhesive substance, for

, act in unison for the purpose designated. It is also essential that the amount of heat and the percentage of vacuum used 1n the to prevent as far as possible the entrance of air through the latter to the chamber while the band passes to a suitable winding device. Means are also provided for automatically shutting off,'when the machine is stopped, or automatically producing, when the machine is started, a flow of rubber or other adhesive material to the coating devices which provide exterior coatings to the laminated band. v

The solvents which. are evaporated from the coating material on the bands and which are thereby reducedto gaseous form by the action of the vacuum'and heat may be allowed to escape from theexlhaust of the vacuum pump or may be condensed by the usual. method and reclaimed, as may be desired. l

The combination of heat, vacuum and the mechanism as described are absolutely essential for the successful coating of a laminatedcohesive-interwound band forined of yarn elements, or other suitable material, with liqevaporating the solvents therefrom, and for drying and solidifying this coating, while the various agencies in these operations must vacuum chamber should be adapted to the coating material selected.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal-section of the coating and drying mechanism; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line ca Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isafront view of the'exterior of a portion of the vacuum or drying chamber; Fig. 4 is an end view thereof; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through one of. the drying rolls and operating gear thereof; Fig.6 is a face view thereof; Fig. '7- is a vertical central'section ofthe mechanism for giving an outer coating to the laminated band after it has been formed and the coatings of the several elements hatebeen wholly or parvtially solidified by the action of the: vacuum and heatand also shows the automatic means rescue? throughwhich the band passes and which determine the thickness of the coating Fig. divisions that the laminated b'and passes- 8 isa plan view. of the same; Fig. 9 is a section on line M Fig. 7 Fig. 10 is a vertical section on line e'e Fig. 7 Fig. 11 .is a perspective view ofthe jaws which form one of the openings through which the band passes intothe rubber receptacle shown in Flg. 7; Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal therefor; Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the self lubricating or arguto wood bushings Y section of the fluted rollers between inwhich the rolls rotate; Fig. 16 is a longitudinal vertical section of the ,mechanism' or coating the fabric band while still onthe forming tubeat the entrance to the vacuum chamber, and for the exclusion of.

air therefrom; Fig. 17 is a transverse section on line g-g Fig. 16, showing the cam slots in the circular "cam plate for operating the closures around the forming tube; Fig. 18-

is a transverse section online h.h Fig. 16;

closures which are automatically shut down around the forming tube to keep the ru'bber from leaking outwhen the machine stops; Fig,- 20 is atransverse section on line 8-8 Fig. 18 of the rubber washers which prevent .the.liquid rubber from escaping from the I "rear of the receptacle; Fi 21 shows an annular depression in the orming tube to receive knots or other obstructions and allow them to pass the closures and thus prevent the yarn elements from breaking; Fig. 22 is a plan view of the sprocket chain mechanism which aids in moving the band along the forming tubes to the combined fluted pulling and drying rolls; Fig. 23 is a sec-v tion on linei'mm Fig. 22, viewed from be- Fig. 19 1s a perspective view of one of the low of the chain mechanism through the center line of the sprocket wheel; Fig. 24

is a transverse section on line k-k Fig. 22 showing the rollers on the adjustin 'eccentric pins which thrust the chain against the band on the forming tube; Fig. 25 is a perspective view of one of the'chain blocks.

Fig. 26 shows a erspective view of a modified form of com ined pulling and dry ing rolls in which the fluted rolls are wide'=' enough to receive the passage of the band in three different lines, parallel to each other, passing around inclined rolls at the turning point to give the proper alinement for clearance, the band thus passing over the rolls twice 1n one direction and once in the opposite direction. This arrangement reenter of the drivingrolls exposes a far greater size or the vacuum chamber.

H is a chamber in which a vacuum is produced as nearly perfect as practicable by suction through the tube H. A head E closes the inner end of the chamber H and is provided with an opening Q just large enough to permit the band to pass. In this chamber the solvents in which the rubber coating has been dissolved are evaporated to a predetermined degree. Here also are shown three series of pulling and drying rolls H H H over which the band passes in turn, backward and forward as it is produced from the mandrel. so as to expose as much surface of the band as possible to the evaporating influence of the vacuum and heat in a predetermined space of time.

These rolls in each series are placed closely together instaggered rows so as to leave .as little interval between the rollers as practicable, so that the tube is given no oppor tunity to resume its tubular or rope-like form while being dried. A coil of steam pipe H or any other suitable heating system, furnishes heat to assist in the evaporation of the solvents from the liquid rubber or other adhesive material used on the laminated band.

The conical wall .E incloses a chamber communicati with the chamber'H through the opening% and hence is subject to the s same degree of'vacuum as that in the chamber H and serves as a drying or evaporating means for the. fabric band on the mandrel.

The rolls H H and H are similarly and uniformly fluted and are concentrically mounted with and attached to spur gears V which are geared to travel at an absolutely uniform rate of speed. After passing over the first or upper series of rollers H to dry' the band as it comes from the mandrel it passes through a coating device H to provide an exterior coating and thence passes over the second series of rollers H for a second, drying treatment and passesthrough a second coating device H of the same construction as and thence over the third series of rollers H to dry the second coating. After this second coating is dried it passes through an' aperture H in the end wall of the chamber as a practically perfect flattened. band. Each roll is fluted, that is provided with a complete series of transverse channels H H to provide projecting teethll H which make contact with the band, and the.

channels H permit of the exposure of the engaging side ofthe band to the vacuum so that both sides of the band will be dried unif'ormly. The rolls rotate on pins H and are i provided withself lubricating bushings'ltl The rolls are preferably formed of alumi-j num or otherpractically non-adhesive material so that the band will not stick to them.

This construction is clearly shown in Figs.

5 and 6. The-construction of the coating devices H and H is clearly shown in Figs.

ber with which it is supplied through a The chamber is formed in portions bolted together for convenience and part/ed at I having packing T to'prevent leakage. The band passes through apertures I I and through valves'or aws l 1 respectively; one set of jaws I I are adjustable by means of the sliding bars 1 1, and are movable by means of the sliding plate I", l cam slots 1 l and pins 1 I so that the movable jaws can be simultaneously opened and closedat pleasure.

A sprin 1 for each jaw. T permits of a slight baq ard and resilient movement to prevent injury in case of the formation of lumps of rubber or any inequality in the surface of the band such as maybe caused by a knot and the jaws will prevent the es- 1 All the rubber fluid coating and supply ing devices are provided with means for auf tomatically closing the valves or jaws when the machine is stopped to 'prevent flooding them with fluidrubber whichwould dry v thereon and prevent the use of the machine until they were cleaned,and the same means serves to open them automatically wh'enthe machine is started.

In Figs, 22 to 2'5 inclusive is shown the mechanism for pushing the band ofl' from the mandrel and is employed as an adjunct to the actionof the pulling rollers so as to prevent. the pulling action from distorting v the band and equalizes the movement. Here R and R are endless chains below and above the mandrel mounted on sprocket wheels R and B respectively.

Each chain is provided with blocks R R i which are recessed to conform to the shape of the band on the mandrel and are transversely grooved at R to permit the vacuum to aflect the evaporation of the solvent from the band as it passes along the mandrel or forming tube.

The sprocket wheels are mounted at one end: of the deviceupon shafts R R which are geared together at R .R and operated by an auxiliary gear R actuated by one of the gears which drive one of the pulling rollers. 1

These chains are vertically adjustable to provide an adjustable pressure on the band by means 'of eccentric pins R, R, carrying rolls R R and attached to the vacuum chamber Gr, r

band therethrough are shown Figs. 12 to p inclusive.

Here K is a casing provided with a cover- K 'in which are inclosed the fluted rollers I 'K K of exactly equal size and between which the band passes to exclude the outer air, and an intervening plate K is provided between the casing and the wall of the vacuum chamber, and the lower half of the casing is made slightly adjustable on the upper half by means of a spring pressed pin K and an adjusting screw'K, which'engages the spring K confined in an opening K.

This permits of compressing the laminated band between the rollers to a predetermined amount and thereby fills all the opening between-the rolls, square edges being obtained by flanges K, K uponroller K while roller K fits closely between these flanges.

Roller K K and K, K held in place by retaining washer K and K confined between the roll K and wall of the casing K. These felt washers are elastic and compressible enough to'always bear against the flanges K K thereby excluding air from the chamber G.

K, K, are bearing surfaces of 'arguto wood or. similar self lubricating material,

which will serve as a lubricant without oil, since any leakage'or escape of oil upon the product being produced would be detrimental thereto.

The partial rings K and K, of arguto or other self lubricatingmaterial form a bearing for the rolljK while another partial ring K forms a bearing for roll K K K are-blocks which fill the space between the rolls K and K and the cover K.

The rollers are provided with shafts K whichzexten'd'rearwardly' and are provided with intermeshing gears K K operated from one of the shafts 1K of the interior pulling rollers by means of intermediate gears K and K.

The completed band is then wound upon a spool K in connection with an intermediate band of non-adhesive fabric K A link T a bell crank T and shaft I operate the rock arms I, I, for the band coating device H in the vacuum chamher, and from the shaft 1 and arm of the bell crank T a link T rock arms T links T rock arm T and shaft I operate the rock arms I I, for the band coating device H in the vacuum chamber. V and ,V are external gears for driving the pull- ,ing and drying rollers in the vacuum cham- V ber, and V and V are shafts therefor.

In Figs. 16 to 21 is shown theentrance to the vacuum chamber as adapted to coat the fabri'cband as it passes therein. The mandrel L here shown, with the reference letis provided with felt washers ters-used, has been previously described and illustrated in my application bearing Serial N 0. 668,625, of which this is a divislonal application and is essential to the formation of the fabric band when being coated in the vacuum chamber described. The spiral grooves L, L are employedto distribute the liquid rubber over the-inner surface of the fabric band.

Here Z is a chamber for fluid rubber, divided in half forremoval and access to vthe interior for cleaning, and has a base Z the end of the ,enga ing the gear Z upon a shaft Z operate by the belt shifting mechanism so as to automatically close the opening Z in the walls .of the chamber Z when the machine stops.-

The jaws Z are operated by pins Z thereon and cam shaped. openings Z in the rotatable closure Z and the jaws slide vin the inner end wall Z of the chamber Z.

The mandrel L is provided with an annular recess L registering with the jaws Z so that if a knot or other obstruction must pass the jaws the band can be depressed into the annular recess L I, In Fig. 26 a modified system of pulling and drying rolls are shown. In this system.

the roller J attached to the driving shaft V is formed of treble width as are'all the rollers J, J except those J and J 3 at the extreme ends which are of single width and are mounted. intermediate of the ends of the other rollers, and inclined at the proper angle for the direction of the band on its return path.

The band first passes around the innerends of the wider rollers, thence around one of the terminal rollers J thence around the intermediate portions of the wider rollers,

thence around-the other terminal roller J thence around the outerends of the wider Varied slightly in regard to each other for purposes of stretching or slacking the'lalminated band as may be predetermined w1th out departing from the spirit of the inn vention or scope of the claims. 7 I It is also obvious that the first few pulling rolls adjacent to the forming tube or mandrel may be constructed so as to be slightly expansible, as in case they are adjusted to be slightly smaller in diameter than the series of pulling rolls immediately following, the band will be stretched and narrowed thereby, While if the expansible rolls are adjusted to be slightly larger in diameter nor do I confine myself to the use of liquid rubber or other liquid adhesive material but may use this rubber or other adhesive ma terial in any other form desired for the pur- I. P 3 indicated.

It is obvious that suitable winding mechanism may be arranged inside the vacuum chamber for storing the finished band thereon, obviating the emergence of the band from the chamber and thereby diminishing the leakage of air into the chamber.

It is.also obvious that by winding the finished band on suitable spools or devices in the Vacuum chamber the band is protected from dirt, dust, moisture and practically all foreign matter.

Having described the invention what I. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a vacuum and heating chamber, a former projecting therein, coating and guiding devices for-band ele-' ments projecting into said chamber and rotatable about said former, and band removing devices in said vacuum chamber, said band removing devices having their band engaging surfaces channeled to permit of the action of the vacuum on said coatings.

2. In devices for removing a band from a forming tube and drying the band, a vacuum and heating chamber, a series of closely juxtaposed band flattening and pulling devices in said chamber, said band flattening and pulling devices provided with spaced surfaces for engaging said band and between which said band is exposed to the influence of said vacuum in said chamber. a

3. In a band constructing and coating machine, a vacuum chamber, pulling and flattening means for said band in said chamber, said chamber provided with an outlet opening, and corrugated rolls having overlapping edges thereon, over which said band passes, said rolls adapted to compress and shape the sides and edges of said band.

4. In a propelling device for a coated fabric, said device arranged in the wall of a vacuum chamber, the said wall provided with an outlet opening, a pair of longitudinally groovedrollers, a fixed bearin for one roller and a resiliently supported earing for the other roller, said rollers inclosed in said bearings and arranged to receive the fabric between them as it comes from said opening.

5. In combination, with the wall of a vacuum chamber having an outlet opening, a pair of rollers adapted to pull a coated fabric through said opening and to form a closure therefor, a fixed bearing for one roller, and a resilient bearing for the other roller, said rollers constructed to overlap at their outer edges to preserve a uniform'width and thickness in said band, and said rollers inclosed in said bearings.

. 6. In a drying device for a coated band, a series of fluted rolls over which said band is passed, the spaces between the flutes upon said rolls permitting evaporation of solvents v in said coating, and a vacuum chamber surrounding said series of rolls.

7. In a drying device for a coated band, series of parallel fluted rolls over which said band is passed, intermeshing gears opera tively connecting said rolls and individually secured thereto, and a vacuum chamber in which said series of rolls is mounted.

8. In a drying device for a coated band,

a series of fluted rolls over which said band is passed, the spaces between the flutes upon said rolls permitting evaporation of solvents in said coating, a mandrel on which said band'is constructed, and a band propell ng device intermediate of said mandrel and rolls.

' 9. In a band coating and drying apparatus, a vacuum chamber, and a series of fluted aluminum rolls in said chamber over which the band passes.

10. In a band coating and drying apparatus, a series of fluted rolls overwhich the band passes, and an inclined roll for receiving the band .and reversing its direction to pass it again on tosaid series.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 30th day of November, 1915.

' LAWRENCE A. SUBER S. In presence of- S. L. EXLINE, A. 'I. OSBORN. 

